Seems reasonable to me. This isn't the place for an executive order. This needs to be a law -- and in fact Obama is SUPPORTING just such a law. By not signing the executive order, Obama prevents the appearance of an expansion of the power of the executive branch (opponents of GLBT rights would point this out as Obama trying to overstep his rights) and furthers support for the law that would do it PROPERLY.

If the news article were written this way, people wouldn't be getting NEARLY so mad, but this is media sensationalism. It doesn't sell newspapers / nytimes.com subscriptions to write a story that doesn't get people up in arms.

Why in the world was a FOOTBALL metaphor the first thing in my head?! "It's him refusing to punt because he thinks he can make a touchdown" where the goal posts in this case are an actual law that would prohibit discrimination for ALL companies, not just those getting federal dollars.